ABOUT PORTAGE PARK

Portage Park is one of the largest Polish communities in Chicago. In addition to its many Polish shops, restaurants and delis, one of the neighborhood's green spaces, Chopin Park, is named for Poland's most famous pianist. The northwest side community is also known for its 36-acre namesake park, which hosted the Pan-American Games in 1959 and the 1972 U.S. Olympic swimming trials where Mark Spitz once set a world record.

Besides the park, you'll also find celebrated bakeries, flower shops and clothing boutiques in the area's three shopping districts, including a bustling European-inspired retail corridor on Six Corners.

While Portage Park is primarily a residential neighborhood, the area still boasts a few must-see attractions, like the elegantly restored Portage Theater and The Patio. The Portage Theater is home to a fully-developed performing arts center that specializes in underground and silent films. Similarly, The Patio is another stylish restorations project, but this theater shows first-run movies.